New Upper Arlington pool continues to raise concerns

Kimball Perry

Tuesday

Sep 27, 2016 at 12:07 PM

After a fight over Northam Park and its Tremont swimming pool helped cause arecall election, a ground-breaking for a new, $4.6 million Upper Arlington pool is scheduled " andit, too, is drawing criticism.

"A lot of people are very, very concerned about it," Council critic Caroline Lahrmann said. "Itlooks like they are trying to market this as a money-maker" and not the resident health andexercise asset it should be.

Lahrmann has been a member of organizations that opposed renovations of Northam Park and thegroup that unsuccessfullytried to oustfour council members in an Aug. 23 recall election.

Lahrmann blasted the new pool plans as overly ambitious, over-priced and coming at the cost ofprecious green space. The plan, she said, isn't what Council agreed to in January.

"The proposed contract greatly expands the footprint of the pool grounds, causing the playgroundto be knocked out of position and moved next to the library, by a reading garden," Lahrmannsaid.

Council President Debbie Johnson disagreed and added that she is tired of attacks by a smallgroup that often complains.

"It is frustrating," Johnson said. "We are doing what's best for Upper Arlington."

Council plans a groundbreaking Friday for the new pool, playground and reading garden. All areneeded, Johnson said, to improve the amenities in a neighborhood with young families and many olderresidents.

"It'll cover multi generations," Johnson of the plans. "The public told us the pool and theplayground were old and worn out. We also want to make it (Americans with Disabilities Act)compliant."

That means the new pool has to change and city leaders want to implement some new ideas.

"What we've tried to do is provide some elements that provide something different," said AlanMcKnight, capital projects director for Upper Arlington's Parks and Recreation department.

That includes a "zero-depth entrance" that allows toddlers and older pool users to walk into thepool instead of climbing a ladder or jumping in. The new pool will hold 311,666 gallons of waterand have six lanes, two diving boards and a climbing wall that starts underwater and goes up,designed so that when climbers fall, they fall into the pool. It also has a "crossing area" " small"lily pad-like" areas that can be walked on as users also hang on to an overhead cargo ropes.

The new items were needed because the new pool will be smaller than the old, McKnight said. Roomis needed for larger changing rooms, concessions that can serve the pool and park and morerestrooms and office space than the old facility.

Lahrmann, though, insists that those plans run counter to an earlier city ordinance and provesthat council members continue to ignore complaints and questions from residents, an attitude thatalso contributed to the unsuccessful recall election.

"It's absurd that council can pass a motion unanimously and then summarily disregard thatmotion," Lahrmann said.

Council, Johnson said, is doing what that Jan. 19 ordinance said " directing the city manager toprovide for capital improvements related to Northam Park and the Tremont pool.

"I think the residents of Upper Arlington will be very happy," Johnson said.

If winter weather is good, the pool could be open by Memorial Day.

kperry@dispatch.com

@kimballperry

After a fight over Northam Park and its Tremont swimming pool helped cause arecall election, a ground-breaking for a new, $4.6 million Upper Arlington pool is scheduled " andit, too, is drawing criticism.

"A lot of people are very, very concerned about it," Council critic Caroline Lahrmann said. "Itlooks like they are trying to market this as a money-maker" and not the resident health andexercise asset it should be.

Lahrmann has been a member of organizations that opposed renovations of Northam Park and thegroup that unsuccessfullytried to oustfour council members in an Aug. 23 recall election.

Lahrmann blasted the new pool plans as overly ambitious, over-priced and coming at the cost ofprecious green space. The plan, she said, isn't what Council agreed to in January.

"The proposed contract greatly expands the footprint of the pool grounds, causing the playgroundto be knocked out of position and moved next to the library, by a reading garden," Lahrmannsaid.

Council President Debbie Johnson disagreed and added that she is tired of attacks by a smallgroup that often complains.

"It is frustrating," Johnson said. "We are doing what's best for Upper Arlington."

Council plans a groundbreaking Friday for the new pool, playground and reading garden. All areneeded, Johnson said, to improve the amenities in a neighborhood with young families and many olderresidents.

"It'll cover multi generations," Johnson of the plans. "The public told us the pool and theplayground were old and worn out. We also want to make it (Americans with Disabilities Act)compliant."

That means the new pool has to change and city leaders want to implement some new ideas.

"What we've tried to do is provide some elements that provide something different," said AlanMcKnight, capital projects director for Upper Arlington's Parks and Recreation department.

That includes a "zero-depth entrance" that allows toddlers and older pool users to walk into thepool instead of climbing a ladder or jumping in. The new pool will hold 311,666 gallons of waterand have six lanes, two diving boards and a climbing wall that starts underwater and goes up,designed so that when climbers fall, they fall into the pool. It also has a "crossing area" " small"lily pad-like" areas that can be walked on as users also hang on to an overhead cargo ropes.

The new items were needed because the new pool will be smaller than the old, McKnight said. Roomis needed for larger changing rooms, concessions that can serve the pool and park and morerestrooms and office space than the old facility.

Lahrmann, though, insists that those plans run counter to an earlier city ordinance and provesthat council members continue to ignore complaints and questions from residents, an attitude thatalso contributed to the unsuccessful recall election.

"It's absurd that council can pass a motion unanimously and then summarily disregard thatmotion," Lahrmann said.

Council, Johnson said, is doing what that Jan. 19 ordinance said " directing the city manager toprovide for capital improvements related to Northam Park and the Tremont pool.

"I think the residents of Upper Arlington will be very happy," Johnson said.

If winter weather is good, the pool could be open by Memorial Day.

kperry@dispatch.com

@kimballperry

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